By: Kyle Spence
The Laker duo of Owen Pummel (215) and Christopher Timms (285) picked up where they left off on day one of the Division III State wrestling tournament, with both of them punching their ticket to the semi-finals, solidifying a top-6 finish.
Pummel started his morning by defeating Knox McKibben of Harrison Central by a score of 4-0. Awaiting him in his semi-final round was Jordan Fulmer, Keystone. Pummel finally broke through to the state championship bout with a 7-3 victory. He will face Danny Zamorowsky of Lake Catholic.
Timms met an undefeated Cohen Riggenbach, Dalton, in the quarterfinals, where he
earned a fall in 5:59. His match in the semi-final round saw him take on Ben Congdon of Tuscawarus Valley, beating him by a score of 7-6. He will now wrestle Collin Sullivan of Fairless for a state championship.
Rounding out the trio of Lakers to make the state championship bout was Maddie Miller
(235). Miller started her day with a 1:38 fall over Anne Ruble of Akron North. In her semi-finals match, she bested Dakota McKracken of United in 1:13. She will now wrestle Deionna Borders of Berea Midpark for the opportunity at a state championship.
Owen Weaks (144) kicked off day two for the Division II Raiders, falling to Ben Jacobs of Bellevue, 9-7. After dropping to the consolation side of the bracket, he took on Dylan Hart, CVCA, losing 10-2.
Following Weaks, Ethan Carpenter (175) fell to Kale Waxler, Wauseon, via pin in:27. Blake Schlosser, Clear Fork, was waiting on him in the consolation bracket. Carpenter ended his season with a 16-6 loss.
In the Raiders’ last bout of the quarterfinals, Owen Jordan (190) wrestled Gabe Miller of Canfield, where he lost 4-1. He then lost a tight bout, 5-4, to Landon Sowards, Ontario. Weaks and Carpenter look to build on their sophomore season success next year.
Reagan Hites (170) got back in the win column, and the podium, in the morning session of day two with a pin against Katie Hammersmith, Marysville, in 3:49. The consolation quarterfinals saw her wrestle Paige Gamby, Tinora, to a win with a fall in 4:49. She now moves on to the consolation semi-finals against Caroline Klawon of Eaton. Hites earned a top 6 placement.
Awesom Mitchell (175) started day 2 against two-time state placer Aiden Helmke of Tinora with a fall in 4:53. That victory secured a second straight trip to the state semi-finals, where he took on Hines Ford of Barnesville, where he found success, winning 12-2. In the Division III championship bout, he will now take on returning state champion Luke James of Milan Edison.
Nolan Fraley (126) started things off for the Indians of Mechanicsburg in Division III, taking on Adam Mattin of Delta. Fraley fell by a score of 20-3. His following match saw him take on Max Childers of Newark Catholic, solidifying his state placement with an 11-3 win. Continuing his state run, he took on Colton Nixon of Martins Ferry, where he won 6-2. Fraley will now take on Cooper Schlaegel of Elgin in the consolation semi-finals.
Ronnie Thomas (190) started day two with a win against Cameron Carter, Trinity, with an 18-3 tech fall, securing a spot in the state semi-finals, and a top 6 placement. Thomas’ semi-final match was much of the same dominance, as he won 7-3. Awaiting him in the championship bout is Robert McCrork of Applecreek Waynedale. Braeden Buxton (285) took on Logan Sifuentes of Liberty Center in his first match of the day, where he lost via fall in 2:01, ending his season.
Urbana’s Libertie Nigh (105)continued her well-earned state tournament success by pinning Leah Marine, Washington Courthouse, in 1:36. After punching her ticket to her first state semi-final, she took on GG Dominish of Perry. Once again, Nigh found herself on the winning side, winning 13-9, to reach the state finals match.
Graham wrestlers continued their dominance on the mat. Braden Root (106) won in the quarterfinals, but fell in the semi-finals, dropping to the consolation semi-final bracket. Jake Landis (113) won in the quarterfinals, followed by a win in the semi-finals. Blaine DeMarco (132) won in the quarterfinals, as well as the semi-finals.
Colten Taylor (138) fell in the quarterfinals, and 2 nd round consolation match. Cole Winemiller (144) won in the quarterfinals, but dropped his semi-finals match. Jonas Mannier (150) fell in the quarterfinals, and his 2 nd round consolation match.
Three-time state champion Brogan Tucker (157) continued his track for a 4th title as he easily won in the quarterfinals, and semifinals. Kyler Crooks (165) fell in the quarterfinals, but bounced back with back-to-back wins in the consolation bracket.
Jake Hoke (175) won in the quarterfinals, but dropped his semi-final bout. Chet Mannier (190) won both of his consolation matches. Danny Hoke (215)won in the quarterfinals, losing in the semi-finals.
Wyatt Kaemmerer (285) fell in the quarterfinals, but bounced back in the 2nd round consolations with a win. Kaemmerer then lost his 3rd match, dropping to the 7th place match.
After day 2 at the Schottenstein center, the Falcons are placing 10 wrestlers, with three wrestling for a state title, and have a commanding 49.5 point lead in the team race over Delta.
The third and final day of the state wrestling tournament begins at 9:30 am, with the finals starting at 5:30 pm.
